Prayer Before Study

O INEFFABLE Creator, my Lord and my God, who in unsearchable wisdom hast formed the nine choirs of angels, and set them on high above the heavens in a wonderful order, and hast exquisitely fashioned and knit together all the parts of the universe; do thou, who art the true Fountain and essential Principle of light and wisdom, deign to shed the brightness of thy light upon the darkness of my understanding, and thus to disperse the twofold darkness, of sin and of ignorance, wherein I was born. O thou who makest eloquent the tongues of babes, instruct my tongue, and pour forth on my lips the grace of thy blessing. Grant me acuteness in understanding what I read, power to retain it, subtilty to discern its true meaning, readiness in learning, and clearness and ease • in expressing it. Do thou order my beginning, direct and further my progress, complete and bless my ending; through Christ our Lord.